CSFRA regulations allow tenants to file petitions with the City requesting a downward adjustment of rent should their landlord be in violation of a section of the CSFRA or if a banked rent increase may pose an undue tenant hardship.

Tenants requesting an adjustment in rent do so by filing petitions with the City and entering into a formal process. This process includes filing of forms and documentation, pre-hearing meetings, pre-hearing settlement conferences (if requested), hearings overseen and adjudicated by a Hearing Officer and the issuing of a formal decision by the same Hearing Officer. The process also allows parties to the petition to file appeals with the Rental Housing Committee (RHC) should they dispute the outcome of the decision.

Tenants may file petitions with the City to request a downward adjustment of rent for the following reasons:

• Unlawful Rent Petition
• Failure to Maintain Habitable Premise (Habitability and Maintenance Petition)
• Reduction in Housing Services (Habitability and Maintenance Petition)
• Tenant Hardship Petition

Tenants and landlords may also file a new or additional housing services petition for an increase of rent or to allow for a one-time payment from tenant to landlord in order to cover, or partially cover, increased costs in defined categories. Tenants must initiate the process.

Tenants are also able to file petitions disputing the exemption status of a property.

Access information, forms and filing instructions for petitions, petition appeals and responding to tenant petitions by clicking the buttons below.

 Unlawful Rent Petitions 

• File a petition to dispute a rent increase or to recuperate excess rent payments.

 Habitability and Maintenance Petitions

• File a petition to request a rent decrease for a landlord's failure to maintain a livable, healthy and safe premise and/or a reduction in housing services.

Tenant Hardship Petitions 

• File a petition to request alleviation from a proposed rent increase above the AGA. Petitions can be filed in response to a banked increase notice or an Upward Adjustment of Rent Petition.

New or Additional Housing Services Petitions (Joint Petition)

• File a joint petition with your landlord to request an increase of rent or allow for a one-time payment from tenant to landlord in order to cover, or partially cover, increased costs in defined categories.

 Exemption Status Petitions

• File a petition to dispute the CSFRA exemption status of a property.

• Find information and forms for filing petition appeals.

• Access petition response and representative authorization forms.

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